Grape Composition under Abiotic Constrains: Water Stress and Salinity

Abstract

Water stress and increasing soil salt concentration represent the most common abiotic constrains that exert a negative impact on Mediterranean vineyards performance. However, several studies have proven that deficit irrigation strategies are able to improve grape composition. In contrast, irrigation with saline waters negatively affected yield and grape composition, although the magnitude of these effects depended on the cultivar, rootstock, phenological stage when water was applied, as well as on the salt concentration in the irrigation water. In this context, agronomic practices that minimize these effects on berry composition and, consequently, on wine quality must be achieved. In this paper, we briefly reviewed the main findings obtained regarding the effects of deficit irrigation strategies, as well as irrigation with saline water, on the berry composition of both red and white cultivars, as well as on the final wine. A meta-analysis was performed using published data for red and white varieties; a general liner model accounting for the effects of cultivar, rootstock, and midday stem water potential was able to explain up to 90% of the variability in the dataset, depending on the selected variable. In both red and white cultivars, berry weight, must titratable acidity and pH were fairly well simulated, whereas the goodness-of-fit for wine attributes was better for white cultivars.

Review of water deficit mediated changes in vine and berry physiology; Consequences for the optimization of irrigation strategies

“…In semi-arid areas exposed to water scarcity, re-using wastewater is an attractive practice to promote water and cost savings. However, water quality, mainly in regards of a too high salt concentration, inducing salt stress, can have detrimental effects on overall vineyard performance (Costa et al, 2016;Laurenson et al, 2012), more specifically on vine transpiration (Pereira et al, 2015) and can negatively affect yield and berry composition and consequently final wine quality (Miras-Avalos and Intrigliolo, 2017). Using moderately saline water for deficit irrigation, Degaris et al (2016) reported an effect on ion partitioning (Cl -, Na + , and K + ) in grapevines berries.…”

Effects of Vine Water Status on Yield Components, Vegetative Response and Must and Wine Composition

“…Finally, Herrera et al [114] suggest that the interaction between water availability and weather conditions plays a crucial role in modulating berry composition. A meta-analysis performed by Mirás-Avalos and Intrigliolo [115], using published data for red and white varieties, concludes that cultivar, the timing of water restrictions and rootstock type have a great influence on must and wine composition. The The effect of RDI on grape volatile and phenolic compounds remains incompletely understood, and further investigations are required to determine what compounds are influenced by irrigation.…”

Vineyard and Olive Orchard Management to Maintain Yield and Quality Under Abiotic Stress Conditions

“…On other hand, deficits occurring during the maturation of fruits show positive impacts on soluble sugar accumulation and enhancement of fruit aroma. The level of stress that benefits the entire cycle of the plant is likely to be depend, simultaneously, on species and environmental conditions, but when a certain threshold of water stress is surpassed, the beneficial effects are no longer observed [23,24].…”